Device for igniting fuel



y 1958 T. o. OGLE ETAL DEVICE FOR IGNITING FUEL Filed July 12, 1956 INVENTOR. THEODORE O- OGLE G @ALD K. STEVENS ATIURNEKS United States Patent O DEVICE FOR IGNITING FUEL Theodore O. Ogle and Gerald K. Stevens, Burbank, Calif. Application July 12, 1956, Serial No. 597,472

4 Claims. (Cl. 219-32) This invention generally relates to a device for igniting fuel and more particularly to a device for igniting charcoal or similar fuel products used in braziers as a source of heat for barbecuing foods.

'In view of the present day, popular appeal of barbecued foods, considerable effort has been directed towards the objective of simplifying the barbecuing process. In this regard, many improvements have been made in barbecuing equipment including the provision of inexpensive, electrically driven spits, conveniently adjustable grills, and the manufacture of many accessories designed to effect a savings in time as well as simplify the barbecuing procedure.

At the present time, nevertheless, a still troublesome problem in connection with barbecuing appears to be the initial igniting of the charcoal or other fuel product deposited in the brazier. For this purpose, various inflammable chemicals are now available indifferent forms with compositions formulated to provide quick igniting of the charcoal without the necessity of a preliminary wood fire or the like. It will be appreciated, however, that such chemical products necessarily result in foreign odors and the formation of gases which may detract from the overall flavor of the foods being cooked. As a result, certain developments have been made towards igniting or lighting the charcoal with electrical means. Up to the present time, however, relatively expensive and complex fabrication has been required and a simply constructed and yet effective device has not been available.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for igniting fuel by electrical means which is of a simple construction and yet which is effective to quickly and effectively heat the fuel product to a combustible temperature. v

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for igniting charcoal and similar fuel products used in braziers for barbecuing, which is constructed to be conveniently manually positioned on a bed of charcoal to quickly result in a glowing fire, and yet which is susceptible of economical mass production at a relatively low cost.

These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionare generally attained by providing a device for igniting'fuel, which comprises an electrically heated member adapted to be positioned in physical engagement with the fuel to cause thermal conduction from the member directly to the fuel. In addition, a thermally insulated handle means is connected to and extends from the heated member to enable manual positioning of the electrically heated member relative to the fuel.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the heated member of the device is functionally shaped such that it may be conveniently positioned in conventional braziers to contact a relatively large fuel area, while at the same time permitting the overall device to be supported therefrom in a manner to most effectively ignite the fuel or charcoal product. The heated member, in this regard, is desirably formed in the shape of a double V with Patented July 1, 1958 the apex of the V co-operating with a conventional center post of the brazier to stably hold the heated member centrally positioned over a bed of charcoals in the 'brazier. Also, the handle means preferably includes an elongated rigid electrical conducting means, which is angled into the heated member in such a manner that the conducting means may be supported on the upper edge of the brazier side walls to place the device in a convenient position for manipulation by the user.

A better understanding of the present invention will be had by reference to the drawings, showing an illustrative embodiment, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device for igniting fuel, according to the present invention, illustrated in combination with a conventional brazier;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the electrically heated means and conducting means of the device for igniting fuel shown in Figure l; and,

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the handle of the device shown in Figure 1, additionally illustrating the electrical connections within the handle.

There is shown in Figure l a device for igniting fuel or charcoal igniter 10 mounted in operating position upon a conventional brazier 11 having cylindrical side .walls 12 and a bottom pan 13. Extending axially upward from the bottom pan 13 is a conventional center rod 14 used as a means of supporting a grill (not shown). The brazier is additionally provided with handles 15 and supporting legs 16.

The charcoal igniter 10 generally comprises a double V-shaped electrical heating means or member connecting through elongated conducting means in the form of conductors 18 to a thermally insulated handle 19. Associated with the handle 19 is a conventional cord 20 and plug 21 for connection into a source of electrical energy.

As shown more clearly in the view of Figure 2, the double V construction of the heating means 17 includes a radiused portion 22 at the apex of the inner V connecting together two U-shaped portions 23. The overall heating unit 17 is preferably formed from Calrod including a conventional tubular member having a relatively high resistance conductor extending therethrough in the form of a coiled wire.

As indicated by the dotted line 24, the high resistance conductor Within the heating unit 17 terminates at this point and continues thereafter through the conducting means 18 as a relatively low resistance wire to the connections at the terminals 25.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the functional shape given the heating unit 17 and also the angular relationship between the heating unit 17 and the conducting means 18. In this regard, it is to be noted that the double V shape of the heating means 17 enables a relatively large area of a charcoal fuel C, shown in Figure 1, to be physically contacted. In addition, the radiused portion 22 of the heating unit co-functions in partially encircling the center rod 14 to form a means of stably holding the heatin unit 17 in position over the charcoal.

The conducting means 18 are angled in relationship to the heating means 17 so that the heating means 17 may be flatly disposed on the charcoal C and still permit the conducting means 18 to rest on the side Walls 12 with the handle 19 projecting upwardly and away from the brazier 11. Thus, in a preferred construction, the charcoal igniter 10 is designed to have a given angle between the heating unit 17 and the conducting means 18 according to the dimensional relationship of the height of the side walls 12 and the diameter of the bottom pan 13 of the brazier. This given angle is designed to cause the handle 19 to extend to a working position such that the device may be conveniently manipulated and still not result in heat discomfort to the user, either from the charcoal or heated member 17 itself. It is further feasible with such a construction to cause the charcoal igniter to be self supporting on the brazier 11, by using a relatively light material for the handle 19 and/or a shorter conducting means'lS.

The handle 19 itself is fabricated from a thermal insulating material of molded plastic and is of a split con struction consisting of an upper portion 26 and a lower portion 27, as shown in Figure 3. The handle is provided with a front flange consisting of a lower flange section 28 on the portion 27, having grooves 29 and 29 adapted to mate with an upper flange section 3% on the portion 26 having grooves 31 and 31. The mating grooves are adapted to accommodate the insertion of the conducting means 13.

The inner portion of each section of the handle is constructed similarly and may illustratively be described with respect to the exposed lower portion 27. included is a T-shaped insulating member, consisting of a separator 32 and a cross member 33 having cylindrical recesses 34. in addition, a hollow post 35 is provided within each section of the handle near its back end for a purpose which will become clearer as the specification proceeds. The back end of the handle, further, has an arcuate undercut or groove 36 designed to accommodate the cord 20, together with a mating groove (not shown) in the upper section 26.

Within the handle, the cord 2% is separated into leads 37 and 38 which are knotted or looped at before connection to the terminals 25. The leads 37 and 38 have attached to their ends spade type terminals 4% and 41 which are connected to the terminals 25, as with screws 42. The screws 42 are adapted to extend down into the cylindrical recesses 34 in the T-shaped insulator.

In order to hold the two sections of the handle 26 and 27 firmly together over the conducting means 13 and the cord 2%), screws 43 and 44 are provided to conncct into, respectively, nuts 45 and 45, which may be recessed into, the bottom portion 27 of the handle.

it should be noted that the screw 44 is adapted to ex tend through the hollow post 35 in the lower section 27 of the handle before being secured by the nut 46. Thus, the screw 44 co-operates with the post 35 to serve as ,a means of bracing against any relative movement between the handle sections. The post 35 additionally functions as a means of preventing any weakening of the terminal connections at 25. or knotted portion 39 of the leads 37 and 38 is disposed over the post 35 towards the front of the handle, whereby in the event any pull is exerted on the cord 28 the force is taken by the looped portion 39 against the post 35.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made in the illustrative embodiment disclosed and shown in the drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and accordingly, the invention is not to be thought of as limited to the particular preferred embodiment heretofore described.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of: a brazier adapted to receive a layer of charcoal; said brazier having a bottom pan, side 'walls extending upwardly from said bottom pan a given heighhand a center post axially disposed through said bottom pan and extending upwardly therefrom; and a device for igniting said charcoal, said device having an In this regard, the loop '2,81,683 Q H V 5 said conducting means to a source of electrical energy.

2. A tool for igniting fuel in solid state, said fuel being disposed in a brazier having a bottom pan, side walls extending upwardly from said bottom pan a given height, and a center post axially disposed through said bottom pan, said tool comprising: a flat electrical resistance member adapted to lie on said fuel, said resistance member having a generally V-shaped construction with the apex thereof being arcuately formed and dimensioned to partially encircle said center post; a rigid elongated electrical conducting means having one end thereof connected to said resistance member, said conducting member being dimensioned to have its other end extend angularly upward and radially outward from said resistance member so as to project over and be supported by said side walls; an insulated handle connected to said other end; and, electrical terminal means mounted in said handle adapted to connect said conductingmeans through elec-' trical leads to a source of electrical energy.

3. A tool for lighting fuel in the solid state, according to claim 2, in which said resistance member comprises a thermally conductive tubular member and a relatively high resistance electrical conductor extending therethrough, and in which said electrical conducting means comprises an integral extension of said tubular member and a relatively low resistance conductor extending therethrough.

4. A tool for lighting fuel in a solid state, according to claim 3, in which said handle is formed of a first insulating shell and a second insulating shell adapted to be secured together to define an inner cavity; an insulated post integrally formed on'the inner wall of said first shell and extending cross-wise in said first cavity towards said second shell, said post enabling looping thereabout of said'electrical leads; and, an insulated separator formed integrally with said first shell and extending cross-wise in said cavity towards said second shell, said separator enabling insulating spacing of the negative and positive leads comprising said low resistance conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,180,107 Cardin a- Apr. 18, 1916 1,218,284 ,Lekberg Mar. 6, 1917 2,455,410 Farar Dec. 7, 1948 2,492,705 Mason Dec. 27, 1949 2,510,856 Bettencourt June 6, 1950 2,540,277 Molotzak Feb. 6, 1951 2,569,138 Abbott Sept. 25, 1951 2,727,130 Witt Dec.13, 1955 2,740,395 Goodwin j Apr. 3, 1956 2,747,656 Jones et al. May 29, 1956 2,775,966 Huntley Jan. 1,1957

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 17, 1941 

